Epoline looked back at the rest of the group. Edron was admiring himself in a hand mirror. She rolled her eyes. Really she thought? At Kerli's suggestion of partners she offered, "I'll partner up with you and take first shift." she told Kerli. She wanted to make herself feel useful, this would do the trick.

Camden nodded as Procutteus handed him the rope. He listened to Kerli's suggestion. "W-wanna b-be partners?" Camden asked timidly. He would be nervous to partner up with anyone else.

Kerli nodded to Epoline. "We need another couple to help with first shift," she said. "At night, eight eyes are better than four. Help me gather some more firewood." She looked around and squinted. She counted the tents and then the people. "We're down a man," she said, "How is that possible? Our journey just began?"

Procutteus delayed the answer a bit as he heaved back and pounded the stake into the ground. He then studied the tent for a moment, nodded, then looked at Camden and nodded to him. "Sure," he said, knowing that no one else would accept Camden as their partner. Meanwhile, Edron left his tent, with Margaph following closely behind. He approached Kerli. "Kerli," Edron exclaimed. "The d-mn prisoner ran off. Bink."

Epoline nodded to Kerli, and began gathering some branches for their fire. Overhearing Edron's conversation with Kerli, her eyes widened. "What do you mean the prisoner escaped? Where did he run off to?" she asked, concern filling her voice.

Camden nodded to Edron, and snuggled in his old blanket. It reminded him of back home. When he and his sister were little, they would build forts in their rooms out of pillows and blankets. The blanket he brought on this journey, happened to have been his sister's favorite one.

Procutteus set up his bedroll inside the tent and exited, observing the action in the campsite. He glanced at Camden.

"Do you want to watch tonight?" Procutteus asked. "I think it would be smart to wait a bit, but I bet everyone else is thinking the same thing."

* * *

Edron turned to Epoline.

"He just ran off," Edron explained. "It doesn't matter. He only would've slowed us down, and if he was on death row, he'll get his sentence soon enough. There's no way he'll survive on his own. I wouldn't be surprised if he's dead already."

Kerli huffed angrily. That arrogant son of a -- she thought. "It is not his safety I fear for, it is ours. Somebody is going to be alone," she said. "Let's just get ready. It's almost dark."

Bink made his little camp. There was a small fire in front of the tent, and he sat there in the dark of the wood sharpening a long stick with his dagger. He wasn't afraid. He was smug. He felt as if he'd gotten the better side of the deal. There was movement in the shadows. His head jerked up. These silhouettes were human-like, except they moved with graceful gliding rather than heavy steps. He stood up. There were hundreds of them. They glided past him ignoring his presence. They seemed to be moving in the direction the group had been headed. Since they paid little attention to him, he stood. He was going to follow these shadows and find the source. Armed with his dagger and wooden spear, he walked into the dark leaving behind the safety of the fire.

"Or one person could do extra watch time," Edron offered. He didn't know anyone who would want to trade in sleep for staing awake to guard the group from dangers in the wilderness, but perhaps someone would volunteer.

Anoye went to fetch some water in a bucket. She paired up with one of the cooks whom she knew and trusted. She wanted to help guard but the cooks insisted she stayed with them and be their errand girl. Sighing, Anoye brought the bucket filled with water carefully to the cooks.

((Can I make another character? ^-^... And I'm sorry for not replying.... OTL.... It was my sister's birthday on the 11th so since last week my entire family has been cleaning and going places to set up her party which was yesterday ^^' But since that's over I get to reply more ^^))

Epoline listened intently to what Edron had proposed. She was tired and weary, but she wanted desperately to prove herself to the group. "I'd be willing to take an extra shift for watch time!" she chirped. "After Kerli and I watch, then someone else can take over, let me sleep for a little bit and then I can watch again!" she offered, hoping they would allow her to do this.

Camden listened to Kerli, Edron, and Epoline. He didn't offer to take an extra shift. Perhaps after a few hours of sleep and after his watch shift, he would take a stroll to clear his thoughts. He wished he could offer something special to the group, but he was weak and clumsy.

Name: Mathias
Age: 25
Gender: Male
Skill: Animal tamer
Reason for participation in quest: Mainly because he has a debt to pay for the princess; partially because he loves adventure.
Appearance: Mathias has dark brown wavy hair and forest green eyes. He’s 5’8” with some muscle and olive colored skin. He has a few scratch and bite marks on his arms and shoulders and also his back.
Personality: Mathias is like a puppy. He is curious and playful and practically smiling all of the time. When something perks his interest, he doesn’t hesitate to stick his nose into it, whether it’s drama or place and especially for adventure. He loves animals and is very good with them despite getting bitten or scratched almost all of the time.
Bio: TBD
Other: He brought two of his toughest dogs: Akane (female) and Zero (male). Both are big with some connection to a wolf bloodline. Zero is gentler to strangers than Akane is.

The night began to settle in. The dark was cold and unfriendly, but the four lookouts stood at their posts around the fire. Kerli's eyes darted from one side to the other. She had an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach. "One loss can lead to three," she mumbled about Bink. She wasn't sure if it was just her imagination, but she spun around with a jolt aiming into the woods. "This doesn't feel right," she said with a gruff voice to Epoline. Her eyes darted still, but there didn't appear to be anyone or anything there.

Epoline sat down on a log a few yards away from Kerli's. She nodded. "Time is all it takes to tell where everyone's loyalties lie." she murmured softly, listening to the snaps and crackle of the fire behind her. Turning around to where Kerli was looking, a chill was sent up her spine. Kerli was right, there was definitely something wrong here. Listening for a few more moments, she swore she heard the snap of a twig. She glanced at Kerli, silently motioning to where she had heard the noise. Without a sound, Epoline drew her knife.

Procutteus couldn't sleep, no matter how hard he tried. He just wasn't used to the woods yet. He felt vulnrable no matter what he did. He shut his eyes, but a loud crack of a twig behind his tent forced them open again. Something felt eerily wrong. There was no noise but the singing of the nocturnal crickets. He quietly grabbed his bow, and poke his head out of the tent flap. Nothing looked wrong. The people guarding were still there...

Mathias was sleeping soundly until he heard a low growl coming from Akane and a soft whimper coming from Zero. He sat up and rubbed his eye, glancing at his two companions lying at the tent's entrance. "What is it?" He yawned and Akane growled in response. She stood and glared out of the tent to the trees surrounding the small camp. Mathias glanced at Zero who was lying still, whining and looking in the same direction as his female friend. "Something's out there," Mathias mumbled getting up and Akane took this as her cue to bolt out of the tent, barking.